Yoke and draft-bar for couplings.



, Patented May 2.0;]9112.

No. 700,357. I

R. MORRIS. YUKE AND DRAFT BAR FOB COUPLING.

(No Model.)

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YOKE AND DRAFT-BAR F OR COUPLINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,357, dated May 20,1902.

Application 515a February 10, 1902. Serial No. 93,285. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT MORRIS, a citi-' zen of the UnitedStates,residing at La Grosse,

inthe county of La Orosse and State of Wisto make and use the same.

My present invention relates to means for connecting to the draft-bar ofa car-coupler that part of the draft-rigging generally known as thestirrup or draft-yoke, and has for its object to improve the same in theseveral particulars hereinafter noted.

To the above ends the-invention consists of the novel devices andcombinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in theclaims.

My present invention is an improvement on the devices set forth andclaimed in my two prior patents, No. 300,789, of June 24, 1884, and No.400,474, of April 2, 1889, both entitled Oar-coupling.

My present invention goes much farther than either of my prior devicesand provides a connection between the yoke and draft-bar which not onlyreceives the draft strains, but prevents spreading of the prongsindependently of the bolt or bolts passed through said parts. This Iaccomplish by dovetailing the ribs or tongues on the prongs of the yokeand fitting the same into correspondingly-formed seats in the draft bar.'These dovetailed tongues and seats are tapered from one end totheother, and in combination therewith I provide a wedge bolt orrod,which tends to hold the said tapered tongues tightly drive into theirrespective seats.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a view principally in plan, but partly inhorizontal-section, on the irregular line at 00 of Fig.2. Fig.2 is asideelevation of parts shownin Fig. 1, the coupler-head being broken away;and Fig. 3is a vertical sec tion on the line a m of Fig. 1.

3, which extend transversely thereof.

the .coupler. 'The same, as shownyis pro- Master Oar-Builders? type. Atits inner end bottom surfaces-with tapered dovetailed seats Pref? Aerably the inner shoulder 3 of each seat 3 ex tends transversely of thebar at a right angle thereto and has very much less bevel than has theother shoulder 3 The numeral 4 indicates the yoke or stirrup,

the same being provided at the ends of its prongs withtransversely-extending tapered and dovetailed ribs or tongues 5,which'fitone in each of the said seats 3 in the draft-bar 1.

In the ordinary arrangement for connecting the yoke or stirrup to thedraft-bar the said parts are provided with bolt holes or passagesthrough which two bolts may be passed. 7 In my present invention thisarrangement is also made; but I go farther and provide awedge-actingbolt 6, which is passed through perforations 7 in said yoke or stirrupand through a perforation 8 in the said draft-bar. These perforations-7and 8, when the dovetailed ribs 5 are driven tightly into their seats 3,stand slightly out of alinement, as best shown in Fig. 3. The upper endof the said bolt 6 flares slightly, and in virtue of this constructionthe bolt under its weight will press against the shoulder 3 of taperedribs or tongues 5 pressed tightly into their tapered seats 3. With thisconstruction the prongs of the yoke or'stirrup 4 will receive all of thedraft strains and cannot spread or separate from the draft-bar. Bolts,if used, are not relied upon to perform either of the functionsperformed by the ribs or tongues 5 and their seats 3. If desired,however, an ordinary bolt may be passed through the coincidentperforations 9- inthe'yokefl; and draft-bar 1. I

It will of course be understood that thezinvention above described iscapable ofssome modifications as to details of construction andarrangement of parts.

The present device is an obvious improvement over the construction setforth in my "two prior patents herein identified.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is as follows:

1. A draftbar and cooperating yoke or stirrup connected by dovetailedengagements which receive draft strains and prevent the prongs of saidyoke from spreading, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a draft-bar having transversely-extended andtapered dovetailed seats, of a draft-yoke having transversely-extendedandtapered dovetailed ribs fitting said dovetailed seats, and a boltpassed through said draft-bar and the prongs of said yoke for holdingsaid parts together, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a draft-bar having trans versely-extended andtapered dovetailed seats, a draft-yoke having transversely extended andtapered dovetailed ribs fitting said seats, and a tapered bolt passedthrough perforations in said draft -bar and in the prongs of said yokeand tending to force said ribs tightly into said seats, substantially asdescribed.

4:. The combination with the draft-bar 1 having the taperedtransversely-extended dovetailed seats 3 and vertical perforations 8 ofthe yoke thaving the perforations 7 and provided with the tapereddovetailed ribs 5 which fit in said seats 3, and the tapered bolt 6passed through said perforations 7 and 8 and tending to force said ribs5 tightly into said seats 8, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT MORRIS.

WVitnesses:

WM. S. BURROUGHS, ANNA SPAULDING.

